U.S. patent number 4,884,336 [Application Number 07/099,567] was granted by the patent office on 1989-12-05 for method and apparatus for mounting electrical connectors to printed circuit boards.
This patent grant is currently assigned to AMP Incorporated. Invention is credited to Mark H. Waters, Robert N. Whiteman, Jr..
United States Patent |
4,884,336 |
Waters , et al. |
December 5, 1989 |
Method and apparatus for mounting electrical connectors to printed
circuit boards
Abstract
A method for mounting an electrical connector (10) to a printed
circuit board or other support panel (12) with a top-actuated
eyelet (20), and an actuation tool (50, 100) for use in practicing
the method. The method comprises essentially a two-step mounting
process whereby the actuating tool (50, 100) first grips and
restrains the connector (10), and thereafter the connector (10) is
positioned relative to a printed circuit board (13) and the tool
(50, 100) operated to actuate the eyelet (20) to attach the
connector (10) to the board (12). The method of the invention
permits the eyelet (20) to be used to facilitate positioning of the
connector (10) on the printed circuit board (12) and, in general,
the method and actuating tool (50, 100) permit connectors (10) to
be mounted to printed circuit boards (12) in an efficient,
automated manner utilizing less complex and less costly
tooling.
Inventors: |
Waters; Mark H. (Harrisburg,
PA), Whiteman, Jr.; Robert N. (Middletown, PA) |
Assignee: |
AMP Incorporated (Harrisburg,
PA)
|
Family
ID: |
22275632 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/099,567 |
Filed: |
September 22, 1987 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
29/845; 29/739;
29/741; 29/758; 29/769 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
43/205 (20130101); H01R 43/22 (20130101); H01R
12/7047 (20130101); H01R 12/707 (20130101); H01R
12/7035 (20130101); Y10T 29/49153 (20150115); Y10T
29/53257 (20150115); Y10T 29/53183 (20150115); Y10T
29/53174 (20150115); Y10T 29/53304 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
43/20 (20060101); H01R 43/22 (20060101); H01R
009/16 (); B23P 019/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;29/838,845,747,758,764,762,739,741 ;72/393 ;227/55 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Other References
US. Patent Application Ser. No. 876,017, filed Jun. 19, 1986,
"Electrical Connector for Easy Assembly Onto a Circuit Board and
Eyelets Therefor". .
U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 944,058, filed Dec. 10, 1986,
"Pick-Up Head"..
|
Primary Examiner: Arbes; Carl J.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Smith; David L.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method for mounting an electrical connector to a support
panel, comprising:
providing an electrical connector having aperture means therein,
said aperture means defining wall means;
providing a tool having a radially expandable portion thereon, said
radially expandable portion having barbs thereon;
inserting said radially expandable portion of said tool into said
aperture means;
operating said tool to radially expand said radially expandable
portion thereof until the barbs thereon engage said wall means;
and
positioning said connector relative to a support panel, whereby
said aperture means align with an aperture in the support
panel.
2. A method for mounting an electrical connector to a support panel
as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of operating
said tool to return said radially expandable portion to an
unexpanded condition to disengage the barbs from the wall
means.
3. A method for mounting an electrical connector to a support panel
as recited in claim 2, further comprising the step of withdrawing
said tool from said aperture means after operating the tool to
return the radially expandable portion to an unexpanded
condition.
4. A method for mounting an electrical connector to a support panel
as recited in claim 1 further comprising the step of securing said
connector to the support panel.
5. A method for mounting an electrical connector to a support panel
comprising:
providing an electrical connector having a top-actuated eyelet
extending through an aperture in the connector, said eyelet having
a bottom portion which extends outwardly of the aperture and an
internal axial bore extending into the eyelet from the top end
thereof;
inserting an actuation tool into said eyelet bore, said actuation
tool including an eyelet gripping member having barbs thereon and
an eyelet actuating member;
operating said eyelet gripping member until barbs thereon grip a
sidewall defining the bore of said eyelet for restraining the
eyelet and the connector;
positioning said connector relative to a support panel such that
the extended bottom portion of said eyelet extends through an
aligned aperture in said support panel; and
operating said eyelet actuating member for expanding the extended
bottom portion of said eyelet outwardly to attach said connector to
said support panel.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein said support panel comprises a
printed circuit board.
7. The method of claim 5 wherein said eyelet gripping member
includes means for gripping the sidewall of said eyelet while said
eyelet actuating member is operated to expand the extended bottom
portion of said eyelet, whereby said tool absorbs substantially all
vertical forces required to attach said connector to said support
panel.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein said eyelet actuating member
comprises an actuating plunger movable axially within said tool,
and wherein said eyelet gripping member comprises an expandable
collet surrounding said actuating plunger, said actuating plunger
and said expandable collet including cooperating surface portions
thereon, and wherein said step of operating said eyelet gripping
member comprises moving said actuating plunger forwardly to a
first, partially extended position during which said cooperating
surface portion on said actuating plunger engages said cooperating
surface portion on said collet for causing said expandable collet
to expand radially outwardly to grip the sidewall of said
eyelet.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein said step of operating said eyelet
actuating member comprises moving said actuating plunger forwardly
to a second, fully extended position for expanding the extended
bottom portion of said eyelet outwardly to attach said connector to
said support panel.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein said inserting step comprises
inserting said tool into said eyelet bore when said actuating
plunger is in a retracted position.
11. The method of claim 5 wherein said providing step includes the
step of supporting said top-actuated eyelet in said aperture with
an interference fit.
12. An actuation tool for mounting an electrical connector to
support panel with a top-actuated eyelet having a bore therein
defined by a sidewall, said tool comprising an actuation member
including:
a tool holder;
a collet supported in said tool holder, said collet having an
expandable front portion extending forwardly of said holder having
barbs thereon, said collet having an axial passageway having an
internal tapered surface portion thereon;
an actuating plunger extending through said collet passageway and
being axially movable with said collet passageway, said plunger
having a front portion extending forwardly of said collet and an
external tapered surface portion within said collet; and
means for operating said actuating plunger from a retracted
position during which said front portions of said collet and said
plunger are inserted into said top-actuated eyelet, to a first,
partially extended position during which said external tapered
surface portion on said plunger engages said internal tapered
surface portion on said collet passageway to urge said expandable
front portion of said collet into gripping engagement with the
sidewall of the eyelet, to a second, fully extended position during
which said front portion of said plunger actuates said eyelet to
attach the connector to a support panel.
13. The tool of claim 12 wherein said expandable front portion of
said collet includes first and second collet portions, separated by
a longitudinal slot therebetween, each of said first and second
collet portions including a barb thereon for gripping the sidewall
of said eyelet when said collet is expanded.
14. The tool of claim 13 wherein said first and second collet
portions are of generally semi-circular cross-section.
15. The tool of claim 12 wherein said tool includes first and
second spaced actuation members for simultaneously gripping and for
simultaneously actuating two top-actuated eyelets in a
connector.
16. The tool of claim 15 wherein said tool comprises a hand
operated tool.
17. A method for mounting an electrical connector to a support
panel comprising:
providing an electrical connector having at least two top-actuated
eyelets each extending through a respective aperture in the
connector, each of said eyelets having a bottom portion which
extends outwardly of its respective aperture and an internal axial
bore extending into the eyelet from the top end thereof;
inserting an actuation tool into the axial bore of each of said
eyelets, said actuation tool including first and second eyelet
gripping members having barbs thereon and first and second eyelet
actuating member;
simultaneously operating said first and second eyelet gripping
members for simultaneously engaging said barbs to a sidewall
thereby gripping the sidewall of each of said eyelets for
restraining each of the eyelets and the connector; and
positioning said connector relative to a support panel such that
the extended bottom portions of said eyelets extend through aligned
apertures in said support panel.
18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the step of
simultaneously operating said first and second actuation members
for expanding the extended bottom portion of said eyelets.
19. The method of claim 15 wherein said tool comprises a
hand-operated tool.
20. A method for picking-up and transporting an electrical
connector having at least one top-actuated eyelet supported in an
aperture therein, said method comprising:
inserting a tool into said eyelet, said tool including a radially
expandable eyelet gripping member having barbs thereon and an axial
passageway, said passageway having an internal surface portion, and
a shaft extending through said passageway and being movable axially
relative to said gripping member, said shaft including an external
surface portion; and
moving said shaft axially relative to said gripping member from a
retracted position to an extended position relative to said
gripping member during which said external surface portion on said
shaft engages said internal surface portion on said gripping member
passageway for causing said gripping member to expand radially
outwardly such that barbs thereon grip the sidewall of said eyelet
and said connector whereby said connector may be picked-up and
transported from one location to another by said tool.
21. The method of claim 20 and further including the step of moving
said shaft axially relative to said gripping member from said
extended position to said retracted position for causing said
external surface portion on said shaft to release said internal
surface portion on said gripping member passageway for releasing
said eyelet and said connector by said tool.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to electrical connectors,
and more particularly to a method for mounting electrical
connectors to printed circuit boards with top-actuated eyelets and
to an actuation tool for use in practicing the method.
In many electrical applications, it is necessary to mount one or
more electrical connectors to a printed circuit board or other
support panel. Typically, mounting is accomplished by extending
suitable fasteners such as rivets or threaded screws through
aligned apertures in the connector and the board.
Most traditional mounting means are not fully satisfactory in
today's electronic industry with its increasingly higher assembly
rates and greater miniaturization. Riveting systems, for example,
require tooling both above and below the printed circuit board
which must operate in precise coordination. Such tooling tends to
be complex in design, costly to manufacture and difficult to
operate in a reliable manner. Riveting systems also generally
require the application of rather substantial forces during
mounting which can damage the connector and/or the printed circuit
board. The substantial forces required by riveting systems also
cannot usually be achieved by robotic systems which are being used
to an increasingly greater extent in the manufacture and assembly
of electrical connectors.
Mounting systems which employ threaded fasteners are also not fully
satisfactory as they generally require the use of expensive tooling
as well as manipulation of the connector housing. Threaded
fasteners are also usually not amenable to high speed, automated
assembly procedures.
It is also known to mount electrical connectors to printed circuit
boards by means of top-actuated eyelets. In such systems, an eyelet
is extended through aligned apertures in a connector and a printed
circuit board such that the bottom end of the eyelet extends
outwardly beyond the back surface of the board. An actuation tool
is then inserted into the eyelet from the top end thereof to deform
the bottom end of the eyelet radially outwardly to attach the
connector to the board.
Known mounting systems incorporating top-actuated eyelets are also
not fully satisfactory. In many systems the actuation tool applies
substantial vertical forces to the assembly during actuation of the
eyelet which can cause the printed circuit board to bend or break
unless properly supported from below. As indicated above, the use
of support tooling below the printed circuit board is undesirable
as it increases both the cost and complexity of the tooling. Also,
mounting systems utilizing top-actuated eyelets usually require
that the components be manufactured to fairly close tolerances to
ensure proper alignment of the apertures in the connector and the
board and proper positioning of the eyelets in the aligned
apertures. The tolerance requirements of many systems render them
unsuitable for assembly by robotic means and significantly
increases manufacturing costs. In addition, some prior systems
included a pneumatic gun-type actuation tool which was susceptible
to being accidentally triggered such that an eyelet could become a
dangerous projectile causing unintended injury to nearby persons or
objects.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for mounting electrical
connectors to printed circuit boards or other support panels with
top-actuated eyelets, and to an actuation tool suitable for use in
practicing the method. The method according to the invention
comprises the steps of providing an electrical connector having a
top-actuated eyelet extending through an aperture in the connector,
the eyelet having a bottom portion which extends outwardly of the
aperture and an internal bore extending into the eyelet from the
top end thereof; inserting an actuation tool into the internal bore
of the eyelet, the actuation tool including an eyelet gripping
member and an eyelet actuating member; operating the eyelet
gripping member for gripping the sidewall of the eyelet for
restraining the eyelet and the connector; positioning the connector
relative to a printed circuit board or other support panel such
that the extended bottom portion of the eyelet extends through an
aligned aperture in the printed circuit board or other support
panel; and operating the eyelet actuating member for expanding the
extended bottom portion of the eyelet outwardly to attach the
connector to the printed circuit board.
The method of the present invention comprises essentially a
two-step mounting process in which the actuation tool first grips
and restrains the connector and, thereafter, the restrained
connector is positioned on a printed circuit board and the tool is
operated to actuate the eyelet to attach the connector to the
board. This two-step process permits the extended bottom portion of
the eyelet to be used as a guide to facilitate positioning of the
connector relative to the board, making the system more amenable to
high speed, automated assembly procedures. The bottom portion of
the eyelet is also preferably of tapered configuration to further
assist in guiding the eyelet into the connector aperture and into
the aperture in the printed circuit board and to permit a
relaxation of tolerance requirements for the connector and the
board.
In accordance with a presently preferred embodiment of the
invention, the eyelet actuating member of the actuation tool
comprises an actuating plunger movable axially within the tool, and
the eyelet gripping member comprises a radially expandable collet
surrounding the plunger. To secure a connector to a printed circuit
board, the actuation tool is inserted into the eyelet bore with the
actuating plunger in a retracted position to permit the tool to be
easily inserted into the eyelet. The actuating plunger is then
moved forwardly within the bore to a first, partially extended
position during which an external tapered surface on the plunger
engages an internal tapered surface on the collet causing the
collet to expand radially outwardly to firmly grip the sidewall of
the eyelet to restrain the eyelet and the connector. The restrained
connector is then positioned on a printed circuit board with the
extended bottom portion of the eyelet extending through an aligned
aperture in the printed circuit board, and the actuating plunger is
thereafter moved forwardly to a second, fully extended position to
push against the bottom end of the eyelet causing the extended
bottom portion thereof to expand radially outwardly to attach the
connector to the printed circuit board.
The actuation tool is designed such that the collet continues to
securely grip the sidewall of the eyelet during actuation of the
eyelet by the actuating plunger. Accordingly, the actuation tool
absorbs substantially all the vertical forces required to attach
the connector to the printed circuit board permitting the connector
to be mounted to the board without providing support tooling
beneath the board. The actuation tool of the invention thus permits
a simplification of the overall tooling system and more reliable
system operation.
The mounting method of the invention is particularly suitable for
use in robotic systems by mounting the actuation tool to the end of
a robotic arm. Alternatively, the tool can be designed as a
hand-held, manually operated tool for appropriate applications.
Further advantages and specific details of the invention will
become apparent hereinafter in conjunction with the following
detailed description of presently preferred embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembly comprising an
electrical connector mounted to a printed circuit board;
FIG. 2 is a back view of the connector of FIG. 1 prior to being
mounted to a printed circuit board;
FIG. 3 is a top view of a portion of the connector of FIGS. 1 and 2
illustrating a feature of an eyelet-receiving aperture of the
connector;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a top-actuated eyelet
incorporated in the assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 5 schematically illustrates an actuation tool for mounting the
connector of FIGS. 1 and 2 to a printed circuit board;
FIG. 6 is a front-end view of the collet in the actuation tool of
FIG. 5;
FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 illustrate the sequence of operation of the
actuation tool of FIG. 5 for mounting a connector to a printed
circuit board;
FIG. 10 is a back view of the connector of FIGS. 1 and 2 mounted to
a printed circuit board;
FIG. 11 schematically illustrates a hand-operated actuation tool
for mounting the connector of FIGS. 1, 2 and 10 to a printed
circuit board; and
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the hand-operated actuation
tool of FIG. 11 looking the direction of arrows 12--12 in FIG.
11.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 illustrates an assembly comprising an electrical connector
10 mounted to a printed circuit board or other support panel 12. In
the embodiment illustrated and described herein, connector 10
comprises a right angle D-connector, although it should be
understood that this is intended to be exemplary only as connector
lO can take numerous forms. Connector 10 comprises a housing 13 of
plastic or other electrically nonconductive, material having
mounting portions 13a formed thereon. Mounting portions 13a include
apertures 14 extending therethrough (see FIGS. 2 and 10) which are
adapted to receive top-actuated eyelets 20 for mounting connector
10 to printed circuit board 12 as will be explained
hereinafter.
In the illustrated embodiment, connector 10 also includes a shield
16 having straps 16a which are adapted to be electrically coupled
to eyelets 20 to provide a grounding path through the connector to
conductive paths on the printed circuit board as is known to those
skilled in the art.
As best shown in FIG. 2, an eyelet 20 is adapted to extend into and
through each of a pair of spaced apertures 14 in connector housing
13. Preferably, the eyelets are received within apertures 14 with
an interference fit so as to prevent the eyelets from accidentally
falling out of the apertures prior to mounting the connector to a
printed circuit board. The interference fit can be provided in
several ways, and in the embodiment illustrated, comprises a
plurality of inwardly extending projections 21 around the
circumference of each aperture as shown in FIG. 3. Projections 21
retain the eyelets within the connector apertures so that the
connectors may be conveniently pre-assembled with the eyelets
positioned therein, and shipped and stored in pre-assembled form
for subsequent mounting to a printed circuit board.
A top-actuated eyelet 20 is illustrated in greater detail in FIG.
4. Eyelet 20 comprises an elongated, generally cup-shaped member
formed of brass or other suitable ductile, electrically conductive
material. Eyelet 20 has an internal bore 22 extending axially
thereinto from the top end thereof. Eyelet 20 comprises a generally
cylindrical top portion 23a and a generally inwardly tapered bottom
portion 23b. A flange or rim 24 extends radially outward from the
top end of eyelet 20.
Tapered portion 23b of eyelet 20 is provided with a plurality of
longitudinal segments 25, for example, three segments, formed by
cutting a plurality of longitudinal slots 26 therein. As will be
explained hereinafter, the slotted configuration of tapered eyelet
portion 23b permits the portion to be splayed outwardly when the
eyelet is actuated to attach connector 10 to printed circuit board
12. The bottom end of eyelet 20 is further formed to include an
inverted end or a domed portion 28 which extends upwardly into bore
22.
A top-actuated eyelet 20 suitable for use in accordance with the
present invention is described in greater detail in commonly
assigned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 06/876,017
filed June 9, 1986, and now is U.S. Pat. No. 4,717,219, issued Jan.
5, 1988 and entitled "ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR AND ASSEMBLY EYELETS,
which application is hereby incorporated by reference.
FIG. 5 schematically illustrates an actuation tool according to the
present invention for actuating eyelets 20 for mounting connector
10 to printed circuit board 12. The actuation tool is generally
designated by reference numeral 50 and includes an outer housing or
holder 52, an expandable collet 53 and an actuating plunger 54.
Holder 52 comprises a generally tubular-shaped member having a
passageway 56 extending axially therethrough. Expandable collet 53
is supported within passageway 56 and includes an elongated,
generally cylindrical-shaped forward portion 55 which, as shown in
FIG. 6, has a slot 58 extending diametrically across the portion
and extending rearwardly from the front end 59 thereof for a
substantial portion of its length. As will be explained
hereinafter, slot 58 forms forward portion 55 of collet 53 into two
sections 55a and 55b of generally semi-circular cross-section which
are radially expandable with respect to one another. The front end
60 of portion 55 of collet 53 extends forwardly of the front end 51
of holder 52 as shown in FIG. 5.
Collet 53 also includes a passageway 61 extending axially
therethrough for receiving actuating plunger 54. Passageway 61
includes an internal tapered surface portion 61a.
Activating plunger 54 comprises an elongated shaft 62 having an
enlarged head 63 attached to the front end thereof and positioned
forwardly of front end 59 of collet 53, and an enlarged piston or
handle portion 64 at the rear end thereof and extending rearwardly
of holder 52. Elongated shaft 62 includes an eternal tapered
surface portion 62a which is adapted to cooperate with internal
surface portion 61a of collet passageway 61 during operation of
tool 50 to mount connector -0 to printed circuit board 12.
FIGS. 7-9 illustrate the sequence of operation for mounting
connector 10 to printed circuit board 12 using actuation tool 50
according to the present invention. Initially, eyelets 20 are
inserted into apertures 14 in connector 10 as illustrated in FIG.
2. As described above, the eyelets are preferably inserted into
apertures 14 during manufacture of the connector and retained
therein by an interference fit to permit the connector to be
shipped and stored in pre-assembled condition until it is desired
to mount the connector to a printed circuit board. As best shown in
FIG. 7, when eyelet 20 is inserted into aperture 14, the tapered
bottom portion 23b thereof extends outwardly beyond the bottom
surface 18 of connector housing portion 13a.
To mount connector 10 to printed circuit board 12, tool 50 is first
inserted into bore 22 of inverted end eyelet 20 as shown in FIG. 7
with the actuating plunger 62 in a retracted position within collet
53 such that head portion 63 is adjacent front end 59 of the
collet. In its retracted position, the smaller diameter portion 54a
of plunger 54 is within orifice 75, collet portions 55a and 55b are
in a substantially unbiased position, the front end portion 60 of
collet 53 and the enlarged head portion 63 of plunger 54 can be
easily inserted into eyelet bore 22 and are positioned rather
loosely within bore 22.
Activating plunger 54 is then pushed forwardly within bore 22 to a
first, partially extended position illustrated in FIG. 8. As shown
in FIG. 8, when plunger 54 is pushed forwardly, external tapered
surface portion 62a on shaft 62 engages internal tapered surface
portion 61a in collet aperture 61 and urges collet portions 55a and
55b radially outwardly to an expanded or biased position shown in
FIG. 8. Collet portions 55a and 55b are maintained in the expanded
or biased position by external tapered surface portion 62a being
partially or completely received in orifice 75. In a preferred
embodiment, portion 62a is received within orifice 75 and, possibly
passing therethrough, with collet portions 55a and 55b maintained
in the biased position by larger diameter portion 54a of plunger 54
being received in orifice 75. An outwardly extending barb 76 is
formed adjacent the front end of each collet portion 55a and 55b,
and as the collet portions are urged apart, barbs 76 engage and
bite into the inner sidewall of eyelet 20. In a preferred
embodiment, barbs 76 engage and bite into the inner sidewall of
eyelet 20 in a region of bore 22 within aperture 14 in connector
housing 13. Thus, when tool 50 is in the first, partially extended
position illustrated in FIG. 8, collet 53 firmly grips eyelet 20
and securely restrains the eyelet and the connector.
Connector 10 is then positioned on printed circuit board 12. The
extended tapered portion 23b of eyelet 20 is adapted to be extended
through an aperture 19 in printed circuit board 12, and functions
as a guide to facilitate proper positioning of the connector
relative to the board. The tapered shape of extended eyelet portion
23b also helps to guide the eyelet into the proper aperture 19 in
the board and permits a reduction in tolerance requirements for the
board and the connector.
Following positioning of the connector on the printed circuit board
12, actuating plunger 54 is pushed forwardly within bore 22 to a
second, fully extended position illustrated in FIG. 9 to actuate
the eyelet 20. As it is moved forwardly, the enlarged head 63 of
plunger 54 contacts the inwardly domed portion 28 of eyelet 20 and
deforms it as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 causing the extended portion
23b of the eyelet to spread radially outwardly to attach the
connector to the printed circuit board. Simultaneously, collet
members 55a and 55b are maintained in the expanded or biased
position by larger diameter portion 54a of plunger 54 in orifice
75.
Following the eyelet actuating step shown in FIG. 9, actuating
plunger 54 is retracted back to its retracted position shown in
FIG. 7. When the external tapered surface portion 62a on shaft 62
clears the internal tapered surface portion 61a on collet 53,
smaller diameter portion 54b is again received in orifice 75 and
portions 55a and 55b of collet 53 are released and spring inwardly
to release the eyelet allowing the tool to be easily withdrawn from
the eyelet.
Typically, after the eyelet is actuated to attach the connector to
the printed circuit board, the eyelet is then soldered to the board
during a soldering process that also solders other components
stuffed into the board to provide a secure, permanent electrical
and mechanical attachment of the connector to the board.
With the present invention, barbs 76 on the collet 53 firmly bite
into and restrain the eyelet relative to the collet during
actuation of the eyelet by the actuating plunger. In this manner
all of the reactionary and axial actuation forces are transmitted
from the tool 50 actuation device through plunger 54 and head
portion 63 to inverted end 28 of eyelet 20 thence through the body
of eyelet 20, portions 23b and 23a, to barbs 76 and collet members
55a and 55b. The actuation tool thus absorbs substantially all of
the axial actuation forces required to set the inverted end of the
eyelet as well as reactionary forces as a result of the actuation
force and prevents axial actuation or reactionary forces from
acting on the printed circuit board such as might cause the board
to move, bend or break. Accordingly, with the present invention, it
is not necessary to provide support tooling below the printed
circuit board during actuation of the eyelet, permitting less
complex, lower cost tooling to be used. Furthermore, the two-step
mounting method of the invention wherein the tool initially grips
and restrains the connector, and, thereafter, the connector is
positioned on and attached to a printed circuit board, facilitates
the assembly process by permitting the extended bottom portion of
the eyelet to be used as a guide to properly position the connector
relative to the printed circuit board thereby relaxing tolerance
requirements.
Although tool 50 has been described as picking up a connector and
positioning the connector on a printed circuit board thence setting
an inverted end eyelet, the invention is not limited thereto. Tool
50 may be used to pick up and position connectors with or without
eyelets in the aperture. In the absence of eyelets, tool 50 would
engage the walls forming the aperture. Subsequently, securing means
could be inserted into the aperture to secure the connector to the
printed circuit board. The securing means could take the form of
any known securing means, could include threaded devices or
adhesive as well as eyelets, whether top-actuated or not, and could
be inserted mechanically or manually. For example, subsequent to
placing a connector having apertures but no eyelets disposed
therein, a robotic arm could, in a second operation, pick up and
position an eyelet in the aperture for securing the connector to a
printed circuit board. If the eyelet is a top-actuated eyelet,
subsequent to insertion of the eyelet, the eyelet could be set.
The method and actuation tool of the invention are especially
suitable for use in connection with robotic assembly equipment in
which the actuation tool is mounted to the end of a robotic arm.
The invention can also be practiced, however, with a hand-operated,
manual tool, for example, in applications wherein only a few
connectors are to be mounted to printed circuit boards. A suitable
hand-operated tool is illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12.
The hand-operated tool is generally designated by reference numeral
-00 and comprises a first upper portion 101 and a second lower
portion 102 connected together at 103 for pivotal movement of upper
portion 101 relative to lower portion 102. Tool 100 contains two
spaced actuation members 120 and 121 as shown in FIG. 11. The
actuating members each include a holder 106 supporting a radially
expandable collet 107 therein attached to lower tool portion 102,
and an actuating plunger 108 attached to upper tool portion 101 via
plunger extension 109. Activating plungers 108 extend through the
collets 107 and are movable longitudinally therein as described
with respect to the tool of FIG. 5, by pivoting upper tool portion
101 with respect to lower tool portion 102. Handles 104 and 105
extend from tool portions 101 and 102 to a assist in operating the
tool.
To use hand-operated tool 100 to mount a connector such as
connector 10 to a printed circuit board, the tool is first
positioned relative to the connector such that actuation members
120 and -22 extend into the internal bores of the two eyelets in
connector 10 while the plungers are in their retracted position,
i.e., with upper tool portion 101 pivoted slightly upwardly
relative to tool portion 102. Thereafter, upper tool portion 101 is
pivoted downwardly by a slight amount to move the actuating
plungers 108 to a first, partially extended position to expand
collets 107 radially outwardly to cause barbs on the collets to
grip the eyelets and to restrain the connector. The connector is
then positioned with the eyelets received in corresponding
apertures in a printed circuit board, and upper tool portion 101 is
then pivoted further downwardly to the position shown in FIG. 12,
wherein the actuating plungers 108 are moved to their second, fully
extended position for actuating the eyelets in the connector to
attach the connector to the board. Upper tool portion 101 is then
pivoted back to its upper position to cause the actuating plungers
108 to return to their retracted position to release the
connector.
Tool 100 in the preferred embodiment contains two actuation members
and thus permits two eyelets to be simultaneously actuated to mount
a connector having two eyelets to a printed circuit board in a
single operation. The spacing between the actuation members are
preferably adjustable and securable over a range as indicated by
slots 116 to ensure proper alignment of the actuation members 120
and 121 with the eyelets in a variety of spacings of apertures 14
in housing 13.
While what has been described constitutes presently most preferred
embodiments of the invention, it should be recognized that the
invention could take numerous other forms. For example, although
the actuation tool of the invention has been described herein as a
means for mounting a connector to a printed circuit board, the tool
is also usable as a convenient means for generally picking-up and
transferring a connector from one location to another for any
desired purpose during manufacture or assembly of the connector.
Because the invention can take various forms, it should be
understood that the invention should be limited only insofar as is
required in the scope of the following claims.
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